Proportional space matrix printer



March 23, 1965 R. L. TAYLOR 3,174,427

PROPORTIQNAL SPACE MATRIX PRINTER Filed Dec. 27. 1961 18 Sheets-Sheet :5

/304 308 120 CHARACTER 302 MEMORY 0R GATE BUFFER V GATE 5 COMPUTERSTORAGE REC cm um CHARACTER [-19.3 lNlTlATE CYCLE AND SET-UP ITANuAL sumTuAcHmE smr 1 195 494 T RESET OVERFLOW mums ADJUST CYCLE nss 0a Row MCYCLE V cm NEXT CHARACTER 0 TIME 49s Y RESET musr AND Row END CYCLES anmmm CYCLE asa 199 A HME T RESET cnmcm REGISTER d F 200 B V SET CHARACTERREGLSTER J CTWE 2Q got/V sn PRINT DECODE J Y SET "ovum couma J 205 TRESET mmm CYCLE J 204 SET mouum coum CYCLE I March 23, 1965 R. L. TAYLOR3,174,427

PROPORTICNAL SPACE MATRIX PRINTER Filed Dec. 27, 1961 18 Sheets-SheetFIG. 4 MODULAR COUNT CYCLE ms nonuun courmuc ENDED 206 A-TIME SET msrAND usr TRIGGER l 201 {mum uonum courn] B-TIME 208 NO YES ms nouuuncounmc ENDED [su MODULAR COUNT nunsrzn] C-TIME E IS HRST m LAST mean on220 20a no YES 15 mm m um mam oD- lLoAo PRINT AND OVERFLOW ms] [RESEIuoouun COUNT musrul 22 IRESET MODULAR coum cvcu] [mar rmsr AND LASTTRIGGEL] 220/ UZQ 20 SET ADJUST CYCLEI ADVANCE uonum counr I D-TIMEMarch 23, 1965 R. 1.. TAYLOR 3,174,427

PROPORTIONAL SPACE MATRIX PRINTER Filed Dec. 2'7. 1961 18 Sheets-Sheet 5ADJUST AND ROW END CYCLES N0 1/ YES fins uonum accuuumon ovERFLow FHnvuca MATRIX mung-232 A TIME nns 1mm CQUNT QvERFLoHU- F [Tommi nowcouumj zao E i t [1 ms [7mm PRINT unusual 2 2 l 0 ma [Tmsrea ovemow nwroPRINT REG.J246 i [Tun ovsnnow nicisnfi zas (ms mmnx courn OVERFLOWED 0TIME [SET now [no cvuk A TIME 255 B E [RESET PRINT REGISTERi ZfJB FRESETMODULAR ACCUHULATOR AND uoouua counr REGI 0 m5 260 nasal aurm RING (mun262 fius Row comma OVERFLOWED YES ROW END CYCLE ADJUST CYCLE N0 IS STILLsn 1s sToP mMcMEDJ- March 23, 1965 R. 1 TAYLOR PROPORTIONAL SPACE MATRIXPRINTER l8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 27, 1961 F161? WIDTH DECODE F W W Mh fi w M m 3 w W M H x K w w m 0 G P o 3 w L mt N B W B E b o G E m MW0O. n 2 6 m F m G j 6 Wm We G T F H a W. EL H r c 0 m cnurm A nu ans 5 0v 0 I |L H 8 MHmT m M G WWH L J n 0 n0 n0 0 m m w 6 6 o FLIP FLOP PATRSET GATE T 326 AC SET AC RESET RESET GATE March 23, 1965 Filed Dec. 27,1961 R. L. TAYLOR PROPORTIONAL SPACE MATRIX PRINTER 18 Sheets-Sheet 8Fla, 25 OVERFLOW REGISTER H s44 0R5 4 i 4 nor ans FROM I 84 OM om Bns TOREGISTER ADDRESS l PRINT REGISTER SELECTOR H622 F1623 M O a O0R5 a nns219 H 224 a om H 958 LORB a J RESET n2 ADJUST m c 8 940 94e 94424000244: 4244244 F a 0 94B 408 TIMING GENERATOR TIMING PULSES 413 420422 400 40s I 1 l s a A 402 I 444 W m r430 m W0 44s 5 I a A J1 n f 404424 442 445 43 a D B I I H 6\ FIG." 440 n n I446 March 23, 1965 1 TAYLOR3,174,427

PROPORTIONAL. SPACE MATRIX PRINTER Filed Dec. 27, 1961 18 Sheets-Sheet 9FIG. 13 CONTROL R011 COUNTER OVERFLOW \266 a SKIP F\G.2b D 268 STOP I458 1 A5? RESET ovEREmw TRIGS. FIGS.26&27

460 464 455 454 163 16:11:61 :6 LI 5- 0 a 6 CALL NEXT CHARACTER 450 162ADJUST 61 1% 1 463 E c! IJQINITIATECY 4111116 62 I 1 C 616.26 D G IREsET \NITIATE 61 415 ooh I /252 SET 6011 m s I 1 ROW END END CYCLE6Y61E MODULAR & G T 453 RESET Row/ R 6 E1616 END 6161E 1 416 411 SETMUDU AR 164 D T L MODULAR 162 G l COUNT 5 JOCOUNT 61 INITIATE CY T 451RESET R o D I 1100111411 482 COUNT 61 END 11001111111 1 COUNTING & G Hm480 4T6 166 sET MODULAR ADJUST CY s 1--{OADJUST CY 6011111 CY T RESETADJUST CY R 6 452 FIRST 11116 LAST MODULAR COUNT E1 6 MODULAR cfi 488\ I,461 CUNTING l FIRST AND LAST 11011111411 COUNT A s 486 466 A) 164 TMODULAR COUNT 61 J- \4 D I as END 1106111411 March 23, 1965 R. TAYLOR3,174,427

PROPORTIONAL. SPACE MATRIX PRINTER Filed Dec. 27, 1961 18 Sheets-Sheet13 FIG. 18 MODULAR COUNTER CHARACTER mom ans new 648 INITIATE 01 MODULARcoum 01 END MODULAR COUNTING FIGS BINARY WIDTH VALUE VALUE T612 T641T610 FIG. 18o

March 23, 1965 Filed Dec. 27, 1961 R. L. TAYLOR PROPORTIONAL SPACEMATRIX PRINTER 18 Sheets-Sheet 14 MODULAR ACCUMULATOR Row END CY CF e1961:; 0 /6T4 END CJODULAR coumms new I 685 a MODULAR coum O M a ADVANCEsee 665 660 B J- m c} a I 5 l TO M x 0 E o T 186 & G 8 690 ess 680 R Mcfi 0 s10 saw 676 664 661 a C 8 l S F4 or T ACCUMULATOR m o 687 l A2 o aA71 o 0 see 681 665 662 M 0 a s -oA4 A2 0 T 186 s92 saa 682 R n r M C lJ 55 O 0 $618 aow END CYCLE I ea4- MODULAR I 612 RESET ACGUHULATOR 696OVERFLOW 63 G T 144 FIGS. 13,23,25 RESET OVERFLOW mes. FIG. 43 I AND O694 BlNARY mom VALUE VALUE T662 T661 T660 0 o 0 o n 1 2 o o 1 2 4 o 1 oa s o 1 4 s 1 o o o o o o o March 23, 1965 R. L. TAYLOR 3,174,427

PROPORTIONAL. SPACE MATRIX PRINTER Filed Dec. 2'7, 1961 18 Sheets-Sheet15 MODULAR COUNT REGISTER M s r M was T 1 m m ACCUMULATOR m0 ans A2 8 sMODULAR W9 T co uNT ans 486 m -OA 2 m 10! may s A3 T we MODULAR F JCOUNT CY SH 102 C a RESET i 716 END MODULAR 34 COUNTTNG MODULAR COUNT CYc 0o---- a 1 END MODULAR 708 coummc I O T09 ROW END CY 706 Fl G 21 g 2%posmon DECODE 5 52 M M MODULAR COUNT A2 LPOSTTION BITS BITS F1620 F1622M A 55 M f2 490 M4 March 23, 1965 R. TAYLOR PROPORTICNAL SPACE MATRIXPRINTER 18 Sheets-Sheet 16 Filed Dec. 2'7. 1961 AEAZEWIQ mokumjwm mmmmoommkmawm March 23, 1965 R. TAYLOR PROPORTIONAL SPACE MATRIX PRINTER 18Sheets-Sheet 18 ROW COUNTER ADVANCE MATRIX COUNT HG.1

FIG. 29

ROW CODE FIG. 28

2 wol ol o'o T 13 o 0 1 0 0 .l 4 H o 0 0 0 4| 1. 1 I w m R m MM M n m Mm WHW RBF a! 2 7d 4 5 6 T on R R on R R R D O C E E w D D O C R w E O DR 0 0 H H Q .m M H United States Patent 3,174,427 PROPORTIONAL SPACEMATRIX PRINTER Richard L. Taylor, Tangleton, Wappingers Falls, N.Y.,

assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N.Y.,a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 162,477 6Claims. (Cl. 101-93) This invention relates to proportional spaceprinting and more particularly to electronic apparatus for controllingthe printing of data manifestations by a clot or matrix printer inproportionally spaced relationship.

CONTENTS Introduction Prior Art Objects Brief Statement of Invention 2Features and Advantages. 2 Description of Drawings. 3-4 Operation inBrief (FIG. 1, Sheet 1).-

4 Block Description (FIGS. 2-5, Sheets 2- ontr 7 Starting 7 InitiateCycle. 7 Modular Counting. 8 Adjust Clyele lrinting 10 Row End-PrintingoiLast aeter 11 Introduction to Detailed Description (FIGS. 12 DetailedDeseription...... i3 Timing Generator (FIGS. 11 and 12, Sheet 8).. l3CONTROL Circuit (FIG. 13, Sheet 14 CHARACTER REGISTER (FIG. 14, Sheet 15CHARACTER DECODE (FIG. 15, Sheet 11)...- 16 PRINT DECODE (FIGJFI, Sheet12).. 16 WIDTH DECODE (FIG. 17, Sheet 6).... 17 MODULAR COUNTER (FIG.18. Sheet 13 17 MODULAR AOOUMULATOR (FIG. 19, Sheet 14) 19 MODULAR COUNTREGISTER (1518.20, Sheet 15)... 20 POSITION DEOODE (FIG. 21, Sheet 15).20

REGISTER ADDRESS sELno'ron ri'dfafsiiduis'is and i7) 20 PRINT REGISTER(FIGS. 23, 9 1, Sheet 7) 21 OVERFLOW REGISTER (FIG. 25, Sheet 8) 21MATRIXCUUNTER (FIG. 2e, Sheet 10)... 22 HOW COUNTER (FIG. 27, sheet 1l-)22 ROW DEOODE (FIGS. 28 and 29 Sheet Alternative Matrix ArrangementClaims 24 In the field of printing, the need for relatively simpleprinters capable of printing continuously changing data at extremelyhigh speeds led to the development of the k positions of a plurality ofmatrix print heads, depend matrix or dot printer. This printer utilizesa plurality of dot-impressing printing elements arranged in a matrix soas to print configurations of characters by the proper selection ofavailable dots. It is Well known that, depending upon the shape andquantity of print heads used, matrix printers can print a fragment of acharacter, a whole character, a line of characters, or even an entirepage at one time. The matrix printer art is developed to a high state ofproficiency, and the operational details of such printers are wellknown. However, since the printing is fragmentary, that is, less than acomplete solid character is printed, matrix printed characters aredifficult to read. Furthermore, in order to get each character toconform within a matrix (such as the often used five by seven matrix),the shape of the characters are somewhat distorted. For instance, theletter I has as wide a horizontal branch on the top and bottom as do theT and the E." Furthermore, certain letters, such as the N" arenonsymmetrical and need an even number of vertical columns of dots,While letters like M and W must have an odd number of vertical columns.This makes certain letters confusingly similar With other letters, andcauses some of the letters to be suificiently unlike the regular printedform thereof to make char acter recognition difficult for the reader.Together, these problems have prevented the adoption of matrix printersin many applications. In fact, matrix printing of entire pages has beendone commercially very little indeed.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a highspeed printer with improved legibility.

Another object is to provide matrix printing with easily recognizedcharacters.

The prior art includes regular printing presses of the type wherein thetype must be set. In the common printing press, the use ofproportionally spaced characters has long been widespread. For instance,a W is wider than an I, and is given more printing space than the I.These printers are far too slow for data processing use. The prior artalso includes typewriters which print characters of variable widths. Ingeneral, this is achieved in typewriters by having the actual type fontprepared in different widths, and by providing carriage motion which issmaller for narrow characters and larger for wider characters. Thesetypewriters are too slow for many data processing applications.

Since the development of the proportionally spaced typewriter, it is notuncommon for one to encounter nothing but proportionally spaced printingin a given office or given business concern. It actually becomes morediflicult for a person to read matter which is printed innonproportional form. Therefore, another factor contributing to theditiiculty of reading prior art matrix printers is thenonproportionality of the characters themselves.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of:

A matrix or dot printer capable of printing characters with either aneven or an odd number of vertical columns of dots;

A matrix printer capable of printing proportionally spaced characters;

Proportional space control apparatus compatible with matrix printershaving various print head configurations;

Proportional space printer apparatus capable of operating the leastexpensive configuration of matrix printer;

Relatively simple control apparatus for operating a matrix printer inproportional space fashion.

This invention is predicated on the division of the printed line intomatrix areas, which areas may correspond to the successive printingpositions of a single, serially-operated matrix print head or to therespective ing on the style of matrix printer in use.

In accordance with the present invention, sufficient characters of anywidth are stored in preparation to print an entire matrix area, theportion of any character not fitting within the matrix area beingconsidered an overflow portion, which is later printed as a firstportion of an adjacent matrix area, along with all or part of asubsequent character. For instance, in one embodiment of this invention,a matrix area is ten characters Wide, which is wide enough to print thewidest character (a W). In that embodiment, an I consumes four spaces,as does a blank space between characters. Therefore, more than just an Ior blank space would have to be taken into account before printing wouldbe effected according to the present invention. It the sequence were 1,blank space. W, the first two columns of dots in the W" would be printedwith the I and the blank space, and the remaining seven columns of dotsplus a one-dot space would be stored for printing in the next adjacentmatrix position.

This invention permits proportional space matrix printing one row ofdata at a time, a full line of characters at a time or an entire sheetat a time; with one or a plurality of print heads, having one dot or aplurality of dots, or any other print head configuration compatible withthe above. Further, printing may occur with the paper in flight(continuous paper motion) or with the paper at rest (incremental papermotion).

The realization of this invention in a concrete embodiment is relativelysimple, and it may operate semi-asynchronously with respect to a paperfeeding and/or print impression mechanism.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advan tages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of preferred embodiments thereof as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram illustrating, in a broad sense,the operation of one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2a is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a proportionalspace matrix printer in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2b is a simplified schematic block diagram of apparatus external tothe described embodiment of the invention, which apparatus suppliescharacters to be printed to be described embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a chart illustrating the operation of the device shown in FIG.2 in an initiate cycle and in establishing conditions prior to theinitiate" cycle;

FIG. 4 is a chart illustrating the operation of the device shown in FIG.2 during a modular count cycle of operation;

FIG. 5 is a chart illustrating the operation of the device shown in FIG.2 during adjust and row end cycles of operation;

FIG. 6a is a schematic diagram illustrating a typical gate block;

FIG. 6b is a diagram illustrating the timing relationship of the inputand output signals of the gate block shown in FIG. 6a;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a typical trigger block;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram illustrating in further detail thecircuitry which comprises the trigger block of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a typical latch block;

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram illustrating in further detail thecircuitry which comprises the latch block of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a timing generator;

FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing the timing pulses generated by thedevice of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of a control circuit for theembodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of a character register for theembodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of a character decode circuit forthe embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a print decode matrix for theembodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram of a width decode circuit for theembodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 18 is a schematic block diagram of a modular counter for theembodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 18a is a chart illustrating the code of operation of the modularcounter shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. I9 is a schematic block diagram of a modular accumulator for theembodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 19a is a chart illustrating the code of operation of the modularaccumulator shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 20 is a schematic block diagram of a modular count register for theembodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 21 is a schematic block diagram of a position decode circuit forthe embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 22 is a schematic block diagram of a register address selector forthe embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 23 is a schematic block diagram of a print register for theembodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of alternative print elements for use inthe print register shown in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of an overflow register for theembodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 26 is a schematic block diagram of a matrix counter for theembodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 27 is a schematic block diagram of a row counter for the embodimentshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 28 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a row decoder for theembodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 29 is a chart illustrating the row code governing the operation ofthe row decoder of FIG. 28.

OPERATION IN BRIEF At the top of FIG. 1 is shown a print receiving Webwhich may comprise a sheet of paper or a multiple form including severallayers of paper interleaved with carbon. This will hereinafter bereferred to as the paper. Associated with the paper 100 is a pluralityof print is a plurality of print matrix positions 102 at which printingof a plurality of dots in one row may be effected. For purposes ofillustration, the embodiment described contains forty-nine matrices,forty-eight of which are regular print matrix positions, and theforty-ninth serving to print whatever is left over of a final characterat the end of a row. In the embodiment to be described, one well-knownprinting head (not shown) having ten dot impressing elements in ahorizontal row may print the entire line of characters by moving throughsuccessive matrix positions 102 in sequence or forty-nine printing heads(not shown) may be provided, each to operate in turn. In either case,the matrix printing positions must be skewed as shown in FIG. 1 if thepaper is to move continuously during printing so as to provide anordinal line of characters. This is unnecessary if the paper is stoppedfor each row of printing.

Shown on the paper 100 are a plurality of dot positions; the hollow dotpositions 104 illustrate areas where printing will be effected tocomplete the line of characters, the solid dots 106 illustrate dotswhich have previously been printed, and the hollow dots with Xs in them108 illustrate dots which are being printed in the current print cycle.The dots 104, 106, 108 illustrate the mode of printing in thisembodiment which comprises printing the top row of dots for eachcharacter in a whole line of characters, then printing the second row ofdots for all of the characters in the entire line, and continuing inthat manner to build the seven rows which form a line oi characters, onerow of dots at a time.

Characters of different width are shown on the paper 100. For instance,the blank (or space) and the "1 are each alloted four spaces, the H isallotted six spaces, the N, O, S, and T are allotted eight spaces, andthe W is alloted ten spaces. Notice that each character begins in thefirst vertical column of its space allotment and has associated with itone or two columns or spaces between itself and the next character: TheI, T and W each have one vertical space following the character withinthe character space allotted; similarly, the N," O, S and H each havetwo vertical spaces following the character. This variable characterspace following each character allows each character to be generatedwithin either an even or an odd number of vertical columns of dots inorder to most nearly duplicate the true, printed configuration of thesame character. In other words, each character can assume the mostappropriate shape, using either an even or odd number of columns asnecessary. Since the I is only three dots and one space wide whereas theT is seven dots and one space wide, the usual confusion between amatrical I and a matrical T is thus eliminated. These characteristics ofthe matrical characters shown in FIG. 1 are what make each charactermore easily recognized, thereby causing smoother, nonstrenuous reading.

The circuits of FIG. 1 are shown with conditions established to printthe W. Note that FIG. 1 is not an accurate schematic of an embodiment,but is merely a stylization of the operation of an embodiment. As shownin FIG. 1, the 2nd MATRIX 102 is about to print dots in its fourth andseventh dot position. Note that this comprises a dot from the letter 0and a dot from the letter

1. IN CONTROL APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A MATRIX PRINTER OF THE TYPEWHICH HAS MEANS FOR PRINTING DOTS IN ROWS ACCORDING TO CONFIGURATIONS OFCHARACTERS SO AS TO PROVIDE A LINE OF PRINTED CHARACTERS, THE CONTROLAPPARATUS BEING PROVIDED WITH SUCCESSIVE CODED MANIFESTATIONS OFCHARACTERS TO BE PRINTED IN A SEQUENCE, A PRINTER CONTROL COMPRISING:PRINT CODING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID CODED MANIFESTATIONS FOR PROVIDINGA PRINT CONTROL MANIFESTATION OF EACH CHARACTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEMATRIXPRINTED CONFIGURATION OF SAID CHARACTER, SAID PRINT CODING MEANSGENERATING A MANIFESTATION OF EACH CHARACTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH ACONFIGURATION OF SAID CHARACTER WHICH INCLUDES A WIDTH OF MORE OR LESSDOTS IN HORIZONTAL ROWS FOR WIDER AND NARROWER CHARACTERS, RESPECTIVELY;WIDTH MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID CODED MANIFESTATIONS FOR DESIGNATING ANDACCUMULATING THE DOT WIDTH VALUES SAID WIDTH MEANS ALLOCATING DOT WIDTHSTO SAID CHARACTERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESPECTIVE WIDTHS OFMANIFESTATIONS PROVIDED BY SAID PRINT CODING MEANS; MANIFESTATIONSPROVIDED BY SAID PRINT CODING MEANS;